Become a Cheeseburger Connoisseur in New Mexico

Watch one of New Mexico's famous sunsets at the Bosque del Apache nature preserve.

(Photo: Erv Nichols)

Watch flocks of sandhill cranes take flight at the Bosque del Apache nature preserve in San Antonio, a spot revered among wildlife photographers. Visit in the late afternoon to catch the birds returning to their roost in the famous New Mexico sunset, or arrive early for a more solitary setting—the preserve opens an hour before sunrise.

Take a growler to go at the Marble Brewery in Albuquerque, a beer-lovers’ haven that’s open until midnight. Sample the seven in-house beers, including Wildflower Wheat and Oatmeal Stout, plus a rotating selection of seasonal varieties. Opt for a 5-ounce ($1.50), 10-ounce ($3), 16-ounce ($4), or 22-ounce ($5.50) pour. Drop in on Friday, when the brewery features a weekly cask ale, or listen to live music in the outdoor patio starting in April.

Hike through the Santa Fe National Forest to the San Antonio Hot Springs, a wooded, four-mile trek among pine trees and, come spring, wildflowers. (Less intrepid hikers can opt to take a shorter two-mile route to the McCauley Warm Springs.) The natural pools sustain a temperature of 105 degrees Fahrenheit for a muscle-relaxing post-hike soak.